The North East’s most senior religious figure has added his support to a campaign in the region calling for Britain to stay in the EU.

A pro-EU letter signed by business leaders in the North East has now topped 150 signatures with Bishop of Durham the Rt Rev Paul Butler being the latest to sign.

Bishop Paul joins signatories of the letter from around North East that already include employers like Virgin Money’s Jayne-Anne Gadhia, Mike Matthews from North East Business of the Year Nifco and Arnab Basu of Kromek, recently named the UK’s most innovative company.

Bishop Paul has not issued any statement other than to sign the open letter, but it is understood he is likely to enter the referendum debate closer to the June 23 vote.

The list of business leaders has been compiled by Richard Swart, a director of the County Durham-based Berger Group, and Geoff Ford, chairman of South Tyneside’s Ford Engineering Group.

In a statement, they said: “We are delighted the Bishop of Durham, one of the most senior Church leaders in our country, has joined forces with our initiative representing sole traders, small, medium and large businesses and leaders across the North East, sharing our passion for the huge advantages membership of the EU offers us in all walks of life and our desire for nothing short of the best for our great North East community and country.

“Certainly the UK is stronger and healthier in, and a Brexit would be counter-productive to the huge progress we as a country and region have made since our EU single market entry in 1975, leaving behind the dark 1970s, with power cuts and recession.

“We are a rich, strong economy with low unemployment because of our EU membership not despite it and attract the best skills across the EU to spur us on to further progress. It would be a tragedy and loss to all see this reversed.”

The Bishop’s intervention has come as Remain campaigners claimed businesses in the North East would be hit with an ‘export tax’ of £900m if the UK left the EU Single Market.

Research commissioned by the Britain Stronger in Europe group said the average business exporting to the EU would be faced with additional costs of nearly £80,000 in “non-tariff” trade barriers if the UK was outside the single market.

The extra costs would include having to submit customs declarations, waiting for products to clear inspections and the need to adapt products to different standards.

A Vote Leave spokesperson said: “This referendum is a decision for all North Easterners – it’s their opportunity to take back control of the region’s destiny. Every year the North East sends £496m to the EU. Just imagine what we could do with this money to benefit our families, communities and businesses.

“Voters are not interested in scaremongering, and that’s why we’re making sure people know about the positive future we have if we Vote Leave on June 23.”